Chapter 8
Over the next few days Asad had started to become restless, he felt like he needed closure, even though he was not part of her life and had moved he still needed to see her one more time, he wasn't sure what he was going to say to her all he did know was that no matter what he was going to face her that one last time.
On the other side Zoya did what she always did busied herself with work to block out any thoughts or emotions.
'Seema, please let her know I can't come...I really am in no mood for another party...and besides I have promised Ayaan that I will be spending the evening with him' 'Zoe, I don't have a problem with saying no...but she will definitely have a problem with it...it is your success party...remember'. Zoya completely ignored Seema and went upstairs to get ready
'Ayaan...hurry up beta we will miss the start of the movie' 'coming Ammi' Zoya picked up her bag as she did she heard the door bell 'who could it be at this time...Seema, can you please answer that'.
Seema answered the door to a not so happy looking Afteen 'where is she?' She asked in a serious tone. Seema pointed towards Zoya who was standing by the stairs 'Seema who is it?' Zoya shouted out 'Zoe...you might want to look this way' Seema said nervously.
Zoya looked up to see Afteen with her hands folded across her chest and her foot tapping away 'I hope you are not wearing those jeans to the party' she said. Zoya took in a breath 'Afreen...seriously...' 'Zoya, I didn't come here to hear your excuses...come on, we are going' 'Afreen, I really can't, I have already promised someone else' 'I don't care, bring that someone else along too'.
Zoya looked at Seema who understood what she was trying to say but before she could make it up the stairs to stop Ayaan from coming down he was already half way down.
Afteen looked up to the little boy standing in front of her 'Zoe...whose this?' 'Thi...this...umm is the someone else I was talking about' Zoya started to hesitate, she visibly looked nervous 'Zoe...is he...I mean...' Zoya closed her eyes and took in as much oxygen as she could, she walked to the steps and held her hand out to Ayaan, which he took and came down the rest of the stairs.
'Afreen, I would like you to meet my son, Ayaan...and Ayaan, this is Aunty Afreen'. Afreen couldn't believe what she was hearing, she instinctively knelt down in front of Ayaan and cupped the side of his face 'Ya Allah...Zoe, you have a son' Ayaan held on to his mums leg as this stranger kept on looking at him.
Zoya picked him up 'it's ok Ayaan...sorry Afreen, he is always shy around new people' Afreen smiled at her 'Seema...can you take Ayaan with you...Ayaan you go with Khala, Ammi will come and join you soon' 'ummm Zoe, maybe it would be better to give the movies a miss...I mean I can take him to the indoor games fair instead...I will take Akash' 'that's a good idea, Ayaan you be good for Khala...ok'.
After Seema left with Ayaan, Zoya asked Afreen to take a seat. 'What else do I not know about you...I am not one to judge Zoya...but a single mum...what about his dad?' Zoya looked at her, she felt her skin turn ice cold 'I was just 18, I had started uni and he had moved abroad to study...I found out I was pregnant but before I could tell him...I was made to leave...' Zoya went on to tell Afreen everything, how she moved to Dheradun and studied hard, how she managed to get her first project and then was offered a small contract after which she moved to Mumbai after her graduation. Afreen had tears in her eyes 'you are one strong girl Zoya Farooqui' 'well now you know everything about me' 'apart from one thing?' 'Which is?' 'Who is Ayaan's dad?' Zoya froze, she stood up and turned away from her.
Afreen stood up and placed her hand over Zoya's shoulder 'I promise you Zoya, I won't tell anyone, you can trust me...I know we have not been friends long, but we have become friends, and I have made a connection with you' Zoya smiled at her 'I know...if not now then maybe later...I can tell you' Afreen did want yo pressure her 'it's up to you Zoya, you have shared so much with me already...and I promise it will stay with me...look...I now understand your son will always come first, please go and fulfil your promise to him...I will catch up with you another time' Zoya hugged Afreen 'thank you so much'.
Suhana was driving Asad insane and had started to bug the hell out of Afreen too, she just wouldn't take no for an answer. Asad had stopped talking to her, he was happy that he had a case that required him to go out of town for a few days, he needed time away from her.
Asad had nothing in common with Suhana, she was overly social and extremely materialistic whereas Asad couldn't care less. The only reason he said yes was because of his Ammi. Upon his return Suhana had arranged to meet with him 'Suhana, I am extremely tired...and you know I hate going to these stupid parties of yours...don't you get bored of meeting the same people and talking about the same crap' 'Asad you are being rude...please come...look promise it will be the last one...well until the end of the month...and plus Zoya will be there too' Asad looked up, this was going to be his chance of talking to her...getting that closure he so badly wanted 'ok...but this is the last one'.
Asad and Suhana met Imran in reception 'hi, I didn't think you were going to come' he said as he shook Asad's hand 'I wasn't but had little choice' Imran started laughing 'well it's for a good cause, come let's go inside'
Asad walked in and scanned the hall trying to find her. As he walked further in he saw her standing with Seema and Afreen. Zoya was wearing a simple black gown with a sparkling silver necklace, she looked breathtaking. Asad stood back with Imran as Suhana made her way to them, he saw how visibly tensed Zoya became, her whole posture became rigid before she started to look around, and he knew she was looking for him.
'Afreen, I need to make a call, I'll be back in a minute' Zoya walked away from them and Asad's eyes followed her. Zoya stepped out on the balcony and took in some fresh air, she took out her phone to call Ayaan 'Ma'am, Ayaan is sleeping' the maid said 'ok, I will be back soon, if you need anything call me' Zoya disconnected the phone and turned around.
She didn't get far as Asad stood directly in from of her 'As...Asad' 'our run ins seem to be increasing' Zoya stepped to the side to walk off when she was stopped, Asad held out his arm 'Asad please...if you are here to insult me again...I really don't need it' Asad let out a chuckle 'insult you...Zoya, I didn't insult you...all I did was speak the truth...which you can't seem to handle...like they say the truth is always bitter' Zoya looked up at him with moistened eyes 'you know nothing about the truth Asad' Asad grabbed her arm and pulled her back catching her off guard 'really Zoya...how about you tell me the truth' Zoya could feel his grip tighten, she placed his hand over his and pulled his hand off 'I have nothing to say to you' Zoya ran back inside with Asad following her close behind.
Zoya managed to reach Afreen before Asad could get to her making him stop and seethe in anger 'Afreen, I'm sorry I really have to go' 'that's ok Zoya, I will speak to you soon, take care and thank you for coming' 'Afreen, this may sound silly but can you walk me downstairs please' 'sure'. As they walked out of the hall Zoya looked towards Asad who looked back at her with pure hate.
'Zoya, you seem on edge what's wrong, is Ayaan ok?' 'Yes, he is...I am just not feeling too good...thank you'.
Afreen saw Zoya's car pull out before she walked back inside 'Asad, sorry I didn't see you' she said as she nearly bumped into him 'that's ok...your designer friend...she left already' 'yes, she wasn't feeling so good...why?' 'Oh nothing...it's just that I promised Suhana I would talk to her about designing the wedding outfit that's all' 'I guess you could call her' 'hmm, thanks, maybe I will' as soon as Afreen walked back inside Asad walked towards his car, he was going to follow her home.
As he parked up his phone started to ring, he sighed in frustration and the answered it 'Asad, where are you?' 'I had to leave...I had something urgent to attend' 'you could have told me...look, you need to come back...Your Ammi is here and is waiting for us' 'Ammi...here...' Asad started to think about what he should do 'Suhana you go to Ammi, I will meet you back at home' 'how am I supposed to get home Asad?' She said annoyed 'Suhana, call a damn taxi, just go' he said disconnecting the phone.
Asad stepped out the car and looked up towards her building 'if I don't do this now...no I can't turn back...I have to talk to her' he said to himself.
Asad approached the building 'excuse me...can you tell me which floor Miss Zoya Farroqui lives on?' The watchman looked at him 'I have been here for years sir, and I can tell you there is no Zoya Farooqui here' Asad quickly remembered her new name 'sorry I meant Zoe' 'Ahh Miss Zoe and Ayaan's apartment' Asad fisted his hand 'yes...Zoe and Ayaan' he said with gritted teeth. 'Its the 7th floor, flat number 704, if you take the second lift on your right it will take you straight there' 'thank you'.
Asad stood outside her door, he inhaled in and out before he rang the doorbell. 'Yes, can I help you?' The maid said 'I am here to see Zoe...can you tell her...' As he was about to tell her his name he heard the sound of breaking glass. Zoya stood a few feet away from him, seeing him at her doorstep shook her to the core 'wh...what are you doing here...how' Asad pushed past the maid 'seeing you didn't let me finish what I was saying I came here' 'you need to leave, right now...you can't just come in here and...' 'and what Zoya disturb your peace...well I have news for you, I can and I will...' Asad started to raise his voice, the maid looked at Zoya worried 'keep your voice down, you do not need to shout' 'why...scared I might wake up your lover boy...Zoya did you forget who you are...you are living with him...without being married' Zoya narrowed her eyes 'you stop right there Asad...don't you dare...and you are asking me...if I forgot who I am...I know exactly who I am and what I am...don't come waltzing in here and start singing the religious song...because that day that night Asad Ahmed Khan...if you remember correctly you forgot who you were too. Now if you have finished leave'. Zoya had never roared in anger as loudly as she just did.
Zoya heard noises coming from Ayaan's room 'Ayaan' she whispered as she looked up 'look I don't care that you hate me...you want someone to blame then fine, yes it's all my fault...happy...now just leave' Zoya didn't wait for him to reply and ran up the stairs towards his room. Asad felt his blood boiling. He turned around to walk out when he looked at the maid 'Ayaan...has always lived with her?' 'Yes sir' she replied confused by his question 'and it's him upstairs...that she went running to?' The maid nodded.
Not being able to control himself Asad ran upstairs and went barging into his room. The loud noise made Zoya jump.
She stood up in a panic 'I told you to leave...why are you here just leave'. Asad stopped as he looked around the room. The room was no less than a toy shop he continued looking around when his eyes stopped to look at a picture that was standing on a bookshelf. It was a picture of Zoya and a young boy.
Asad looked at her wide eyed, his eyes expressed a million emotions, a hundred questions. He was about to say something when he heard sniffles, Zoya who had her hand behind her shuffled her legs.
She looked down as she could stop her tears any longer, she turned around and picked Ayaan up who was hiding behind her 'shhh, it's ok Ayaan, there us no need to be scared' Asad felt like he had been hit by a thousand bolts of electricity as he looked at Zoya with a small boy.
'This is Ayaan...this is Ayaan Asad, my son...not my boyfriend, not someone I am living with in sin...I live with him...my little baby boy' Zoya cried like never before, as she did Ayaan held on to her that much tighter.
Asad stumbled back, he held his head in his hands 'you have...a son...' Asad felt his airwaves constrict. Zoya looked up,at him 'Ayaan...Zoya is he...' Zoya called out for the maid 'Kaki, can you please take Asad downstairs, I need to calm Ayaan down...please can you go down,...he is scared' Asad nodded and walked out 'Ammi...who is that?' 'Ayaan, go sleep beta...Ammi is right here ok...I will tell Kaki to bring you some milk'.
Zoya came down and asked Kaki to attend to Ayaan.
Asad turned around to look at her, his eyes were red and laced with remorse, with guilt and hatred, but this time the hatred was for himself.
'Zoya...is' Zoya looked at him 'yes, Ayaan is your son...' Asad let out a cry as he fell back and then a small smile played on his lips through his tears, he was a father.
Edited by Saima-Syed - 11 years ago
Udne Ki Aasha
127